Food Diets for Diabetes

Diabetes occurs when the body stops being able to use insulin to regulate its body sugar. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in childhood; the body does not produce any insulin, which it needs to survive. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body resisting insulin. Many people who are obese or eat poorly get type 2 diabetes, but others do not. Some people who have type 2 diabetes do not use insulin, but instead use other medications like metformin, which lowers glucose production. Diet can help improve or even eliminate type 2 diabetes and help regulate your blood sugar.

Eat Healthy Carbs

• Carbohydrates are dangerous to a diabetic because carbs convert easily to sugar. The Mayo Clinic suggests that you limit your calories derived from carbohydrates to about 45% of your caloric intake. Carbohydrates that are healthy for you include low-fat dairy products, whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Stay away from white pasta, white bread, potatoes and sugary cereal. Try to eat the same number of carbohydrates per meal; otherwise you will experience blood sugar fluctuation and will have to adjust your insulin, if you are required to use it.

Eat Foods Rich in Protein and Fiber

• Stick to foods that are rich in protein, and make these foods approximately 20% of your caloric intake per day. These rich protein foods include egg whites, lean chicken, lean turkey, lean pork, nuts, black and pinto beans and unsweetened peanut butter. Eat foods that are high in fiber, including wheat bran, whole-wheat bread, nuts, fruits, vegetables, lentils, peas, as well as black and pinto beans. High-fiber foods will control blood sugar levels, because they contain a lot of extra plant food that the body cannot digest. This will also cause your digestion to become more regular.

Avoid Fats and Oils

• Foods that are high in fat and oil clog your arteries and are not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. It is especially important for a diabetic to follow these restrictions in order to get the most nutrition possible from the food that she does eat. Saturated fat, such as the fat in meats and butter, raises blood cholesterol, which raises the risk of heart disease. Diabetics are at increased risk for heart disease. When you must eat fat, use monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats, which may even lower cholesterol.